A momentous occasion unfolded as the India women’s cricket team scripted history by securing their inaugural gold medal in the Women’s T20 event at the Asian Games. This remarkable triumph was achieved through stellar contributions from Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues and the young fast-bowling all-rounder Titas Sadhu. India outperformed Sri Lanka by a margin of 19 runs in the gold medal match.
This gold medal holds immense significance for the Indian women’s cricket team, especially after their heartbreak at the previous year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, where they settled for the silver medal following a loss to Australia.
The gold medal clash on Monday also marked Harmanpreet Kaur’s 100th game as the T20I captain. Kaur, who had returned after serving a two-match suspension, led her team to victory. India had previously defeated Malaysia in the quarter-finals and outplayed Bangladesh, who eventually secured the bronze medal, in the semi-finals on their path to pursuing the elusive gold medal.
Opting to bat first, India faced challenging conditions with a pitch that displayed turn and unpredictable bounce. Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues, with scores of 46 and 42 respectively, played pivotal roles in navigating these conditions. However, after their partnership was broken, India lost wickets in quick succession, concluding their innings at 116/7.
Titas Sadhu, recognized as the Player of the Match in the U19 Women’s T20 World Cup final earlier this year for her spell of 2-6, delivered a remarkable performance by taking three wickets for just six runs in her four overs. Left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad claimed two wickets, while Deepti Sharma, Pooja Vastrakar, and Devika Vaidya each contributed with one wicket. These efforts paved the way for India’s historic gold medal victory in their inaugural participation in the event, as Sri Lanka concluded their innings at 97/8.
India’s innings began with Smriti showcasing her exquisite cover drive, scoring four runs against Oshadi Ranasinghe. However, Sri Lanka managed to build pressure, resulting in Shafali Verma being stumped for nine runs.
Smriti and Jemimah bat sensibly to share a half-century stand
Smriti, seeking to break free from the pressure, displayed her prowess by striking a six – an elegant lofted drive over long-on off Sugandika Kumari – and followed it with a four to conclude the power-play. Jemimah provided valuable support by effectively employing the sweep and cut shots against the spinners while ensuring consistent strike rotation.
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Despite the prospect of a strong total, Sri Lanka mounted a comeback as Smriti miscued her slog-sweep against Inoka Ranaweera. The promotion of Richa Ghosh did not yield the desired results, as she was caught behind off Inoka’s delivery. Subsequent quick wickets included Harmanpreet, Pooja, Jemimah, and Amanjot Kaur, with India managing only 27 runs in the final five overs.
Sri Lanka starts their chase
Chamari Athapaththu initiated Sri Lanka’s chase aggressively by hitting Deepti Sharma for a six over deep mid-wicket and steering the ball past slip for four in the opening over. However, the introduction of Titas Sadhu significantly altered the course of the game. Titas secured an early wicket by having Anushka Sanjeevani caught at mid-off on her first ball and subsequently bowled Vishmi Gunaratne through the gate.
In her next over, Titas dismissed Chamari, Sri Lanka’s captain, who miscued a drive and was caught by a fielder at cover while moving to her right. Hasini Perera attempted to revive Sri Lanka’s chances with four fours and a six in her 22-ball 25. Nevertheless, her dismissal, caught at deep mid-wicket off Rajeshwari, derailed Sri Lanka’s pursuit. Despite some boundaries from Oshadi and Nilakshi de Silva, Sri Lanka couldn’t regain their momentum, ultimately allowing India to secure the gold medal. This victory comes after India defeated the same opposition in the Women’s Asia Cup triumph last year.
Brief Scores:
- India 116/7 in 20 overs (Smriti Mandhana 46, Jemimah Rodrigues 42; Udeshika Prabodhani 2-16, Inoka Ranaweera 2-21)
- Sri Lanka 97/8 in 20 overs (Hasini Perera 25, Nilakshi de Silva 23; Titas Sadhu 3-6, Rajeshwari Gayakwad 2-20)
- India won by 19 runs
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